Climate Zones and Biomes Geography

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on geography lecture notes regarding the definitions and differences between climate zones and biomes.

weather

The day to day condition of the atmosphere, such as being sunny, snowing, or warm.

climate

An average of weather conditions like rain, sun, and wind in a place taken over a long period of time, usually $30$ years or more.

climate zone

Areas that have similar weather conditions and climate, such as the tropics.

biome

A large region of the world with places that have a similar climate, as well as similar types of plants and animals.

vegetation belts

Large areas in biomes that have similar plants.

tropical rainforest

A biome home to over half of the world’s plant and animal species, found in the Amazon region, the Congo basin, and parts of south-east Asia.

savannah

A biome located between tropical rainforests and deserts, characterized by tall grasses, scattered trees, and shrubs.

desert

A biome that is very dry with very little plant and animal life, including regions like the Sahara, Namib, and Kalahari.

temperate deciduous forest

A biome located in eastern North America, most of Europe, China, and Japan, where trees lose their leaves in winter.

boreal forest

The largest land-based biome in the world, located between temperate deciduous forests and the tundra biome.

tundra

A biome found in the arctic and polar climate zone where the top layer of soil is frozen almost all of the time.

deciduous trees

Trees that lose their leaves in winter, commonly found in temperate deciduous forests.

pine trees

Tall trees that grow all over the cold boreal forest biome.

relationship between climate zones and biomes

They are not the same; climate zones can contain more than one biome.

Amazon region

A region in South America where the tropical rainforest biome is found.

Congo basin

A region in Africa where the tropical rainforest biome is located.

Sahara, Namib, and Kalahari

Three large deserts located in Africa.

arctic and polar climate zone

The climate zone where tundra biomes are typically found in the far north of Canada, Russia, and Scandinavia.

adaptation

The way plants and animals have developed to live in the specific conditions of their biome.

30 years

The length of time over which weather conditions are usually averaged to determine the climate of a place.